Technologies

I Was Excited About Samsung’s Cheaper Folding Phone. Then I Saw the Price

Commentary: At first glance, the Galaxy Flip 7 FE is the foldable phone Gen Z has been waiting for. But it’s still annoyingly unaffordable.

Every young person today should get to experience the specific fun, flirty pleasure of having a quirky flip phone that is both a fashion accessory and a cutting-edge piece of tech. It’s the noughties tech experience in a nutshell – or a clamshell, if you will.

But even though folding phones are now more sophisticated than ever thanks to advances in flexible screen technology, the devices on the market are usually extortionately expensive. Samsung’s latest flagship phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, announced Wednesday at Galaxy Unpacked, starts at an eye-watering $2,000, for example. That’s way beyond what most adults are willing to spend on a phone, never mind teens.

By contrast, Samsung has long targeted its cheaper Galaxy Flip series at a Gen Z audience – enlisting Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney to endorse the phone and making its front-facing selfie camera a key part of the device’s promotion strategy. But two years ago, at the launch of the Galaxy Flip 5, I pointed out that even though the phone was around half the price of the Fold, it was still too expensive. That observation still applies to the latest iterations of the Fold and Flip.

I was thrilled, though, when Samsung announced it had at last added an even cheaper model to its foldables family in the form of the Galaxy Flip 7 FE. The FE has a slightly smaller screen and footprint than the Flip 7, along with a less sophisticated camera system, which has the Flip 7’s wide-angle 50-megapixel lens, but not its 12-megapixel ultrawide lens.

«Samsung is now offering a broad portfolio catering for different segments and most importantly those price-conscious users,» said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore.

At first glance, the Flip 7 FE looks like the flip phone Gen Z has been waiting for. That is, until you look at the price tag. Even though it’s cheaper than the $1,100 Flip 7, it’s only $200 cheaper at $900. That’s still a flagship price for a nonflagship phone. It’s not giving affordable, as the kids might say.

I’m not the only one to balk at the price of the Flip 7 FE, either. «Extending its foldable portfolio to include the more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a move in the right direction, but it is likely not priced affordably enough to have a significant impact on the market,» said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.

Foldable phones remain a tricky sell. Market researcher IDC notes that while the market is growing, companies are failing to shift as many devices as predicted. Pricing, it says, is often the No. 1 thing standing in the way of people buying these phones.

Demand for foldables remains «stubbornly low,» said Wood. «Samsung will still need to overcome consumers’ nervousness about foldables as an alternative to a traditional smartphone.»

So will this be the year the teens get to discover the joy of flip phones? I suspect the hinged devices might still be out of their financial grasp for now. But if Samsung can find a way to make foldables genuinely affordable and not such a big risk, I believe there’s hope yet for the flip phone to delight another generation, who deserve the opportunity to melodramatically end a call by snapping shut their phone, before dropping it into their stupidly small clutch bag and heading to an indie-sleaze club night to make some bad decisions.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im